I Love Animals

Cute, cuddly kittens bring joy to any home. Unfortunately, they don’t bring with them the innate knowledge of litter box usage. It’s up to you, the owner, to train them. The process can be a long, frustrating experience. Not to mention a smelly one.

Untrained kittens or untrained rescue cats aren’t the only cause of feline odor problems. Cats, both male and female, neutered or whole, are capable of scent-marking their territory. And de-clawed cats are more likely to scent mark than fully armed cats.

Urine and scent spray both leave an undesirable odor for cat owners to deal with. What’s worse, the cats tend to be creative when they mark their territory. Places to find scent spray include walls, doors, door frames, window frames, outside door thresholds, entrance ways, above and behind kitchen cabinets, behind baseboards and on door trim. The unpainted bottoms of wood doors are also a popular place for scent spray to accumulate.

Despite the wide range of possible problem areas, eliminating these urine and scent spray odors is relatively easy. Just don’t paint over the areas, and do your best to locate all of the offending areas.

One effective way to locate these areas is with a black light. The black light will cause the phosphor salts in the scent spray to light up as a pale, yellowish-green mark that looks like the cat applied it with a squirt gun. Stick a thumb tack about two inches above every mark you find to help you keep track of all the locations.

Mix up a 16 ounce trigger spray bottle of OdorXit Concentrate using 1 ounce of Concentrate and 15 ounces of water. Now spray the marked areas with two to four pumps of the product and let it dry naturally. These scent marks often take two to five applications over as many days to remove all the odor.

OdorXit Concentrate neutralizes the odor-causing residue so that the urine residue no longer produces the odors. This Concentrate must come in direct contact with all the cat urine residue to eliminate all of the odor. Odors caused by cat urine in hardwood flooring, sub-flooring, concrete, dirt, gravel, fabric, clothing, upholstery and most other surfaces are effectively and permanently removed.

Another approach to eliminating the odors is through using OdorXit Magic. This product uses a “gas absorbing” technology to attract, trap and eliminate cat urine odors from the air. When sprayed on flooring, carpeting, upholstery, and most other surfaces and materials, OdorXit Magic absorbs the gasses (odors) coming from the cat urine. This process continues for 2 to 12 weeks depending on the amount of odor being produced and the amount of sun shining on the area.

No matter which OdorXit product you choose to use, one thing is certain: your cat odor problem will be eliminated.

*** Copyright 2006 Listening Systems Inc.

Birds can make wonderful pets and companions and there are many different birds to choose from. Two of the most popular are cockatiels and parakeets. Cockatiels and parakeets make wonderful pets that only require simple daily care. They don’t take up a lot of space, they eat small amounts of food, and they don’t require a daily walk outside. They love being around people and often want out of their cages just so they can be closer to you. Some even learn to talk.

You’re not alone in considering a pet bird. In fact, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), birds are the 3rd most popular pet behind cats and dogs.

It all sounds great doesn’t it? Slow down a little bit, before you rush out to buy a cockatiel or a parakeet, take some time to think about whether or not you are ready for a bird companion. There are a few things for you to consider before you decide if you’re ready for the responsibilities that comes with parakeets and cockatiels.

Do yourself a favor and don’t buy a parakeet or cockatiel until you ask yourself the following questions:

Do I have enough patience for a bird? Cockatiels and parakeets are social animals and they like attention. You should give them at least a half an hour of attention a day to keep them happy.

Am I a neat freak? All birds (not just cockatiels and parakeets) can be fairly messy. You’re probably going to have some feathers and bird seed to pick up around the cage.

Can I care for my bird properly? You’re taking the right first step by looking for information about birds. It’s important for you to know all of your cockatiel’s or parakeet’s needs before you bring him or her home.

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that since you already have a dog, cat or some other pet, that you know how to take care of a bird. Birds have very different needs than other pets. I’m afraid it’s a little more complicated than sticking your bird in a cage and giving it water and birdseed.

Do I have room in my house for a bird cage and other ‘bird accessories”? You need to think about where you’re going to place the cage in your house before you walk in the door with it. And remember, the bigger the bird, the bigger the cage. (Be sure to study the do’s and don’t of cage placement. There are places in your house that are very dangerous for your bird.)

Do I have the time to give my bird what it needs? In addition to the time you should spend with your bird giving him or her attention, you should spend some time preparing meals for your bird. A proper diet for a healthy cockatiel or parakeet includes fresh vegetables and fruits - not just seeds.

Exactly what type of bird (and how many) do I want? Decide whether you want a female or a male bird. Maybe you would like to have a pair of birds so that you can breed them. It’s easier to think through these types of questions now instead of waiting until you’re talking to a breeder.

Am I ready for a long-term commitment? As I said above, it’s not unusual for cockatiels to live 15-20 years and parakeets can live 12-14 years. Getting a pet bird is a long-term commitment. Please don’t get a cockatiel or a parakeet thinking that you’re going to “try it for a while”. There are already too many birds in rescue and adoption centers.

Pet birds can bring a lot of fun and happiness into your home. If you don’t know what to expect before you bring one home, you may be in for a surprise. However, if you’ve gone through the checklist above and decided that you’re ready for a new feathered family member, then congratulations! Get ready for a long, loving and happy relationship.

Now that you have your new best friend, you need to give him a place to call his own. A humble little abode to get away from his work schedule of sleeping, eating and pooping all day. But you’ve discovered, like every other aspect of buying a new dog, there is a myriad of choices. Wood or plastic; wire cage or crate; simple or complicated; air-conditioned or non-air conditioned (no, I’m not kidding), are just a few of the choices you will have to make before buying you’re your doghouse. But before you do, here are a few tips.

First and foremost, consider WHERE you are going to put the doghouse. Some are made for indoors and some are made for outdoors. Crates and wire cages are made more for indoors since they offer little protection from the weather. And if you travel a lot, a crate might be your best choice. You might as well kill two birds with one stone.

Second, measure your dog. There’s nothing worse than getting a doghouse and your lovable pooch outgrows it in six months. A good rule of thumb to follow is to make sure your dog can stand up fully and turn around comfortably. This means of course that your final doghouse purchase should be made after the dog is full-grown. Up until that time, a crate might be a good investment.

Third, consider the environment if you are purchasing an outdoor doghouse. If you live in an area that stays hot most of the year, make sure there is plenty of ventilation. You don’t want it to be cooler outside the doghouse than inside. You may even consider an air-conditioned dog house if you live in some of the southern states like Texas. But if you do, make sure you live in an air-conditioned house. There’s nothing sillier than an air-conditioned doghouse when the owners are melting away.

If you live in a colder climate, make sure you get a doghouse that is well insulated. Also make sure the doghouse has an offset door. This provides a windbreak for your chilly pooch.

Now that you’ve purchased your doghouse, where in the yard are you going to place it? Off the ground is good if you have that ability. This allows for circulation under the house. If this is not possible, put the house in an area where you don’t mind if the dog does a little digging. Dogs like to dig out a cool place in the summer so you will likely have a few holes in your backyard.

Knowing this going in, it should make it easier to decide where to place the house. Also, when it comes to doghouse placement, be sure you can see the house from your house. No matter how well made a doghouse is, some dogs will always find a way to get themselves caught up. I know this from experience. If you can see the doghouse from your house, you will know your dog managed to trap himself long before he resorts to the plaintive howls of the mistreated dog.

And finally, bedding for a doghouse is a must. No matter how cute that blanket is that your dog loves, don’t use it as a bed. Body heat, moisture and darkness will attract fleas and ticks, and even worse, smells. Blankets, carpet, fabrics, straw or towels should never be used as bedding. A better alternative would be to cedar shavings, or a dense foam pad that is moisture proof.

So now you’re armed with all the knowledge necessary to purchase your first doghouse. I bet you didn’t realize that picking up that little puppy was going to be so much trouble did you? Don’t worry, the initial cost of getting a new pup is offset in the long run with a friend who will love you his entire life without judgment or preconceived notions.

I have wondered just who are the ancestors of the shih tzu. Like all other dog breeds, shih tzu ancestors most likely come from five choices: Grey Wolf, Golden Jackal, Coyote, African Wild Dog. It is hard to imagine our little shih tzu baby dolls has any of these wild characters in their background. According to researchers, all canines have their roots in one of these five categories. I don’t think I could ever be in love with a real live wolf or a coyote. A coyote makes those strange sounding “howls.” I have some shih tzu that have a howl sound rather than a bark.

Out of the five groups, wolves and dogs share 71 of 90 charted behavioral patterns, more than any other two canid species. My thinking is then probably most breeds as we know them today have the wolf as its ancestor. The fact that the shih tzu has ancestors in the wolf family, however, does not thrill me in the least. I cannot imagine sharing my bed with a real live wolf. The shih tzu faces are so sweet and innocent. A lot of my shih tzu look like chinese men and women in the face. They do not seem like even “dogs” to me.

The Egyptians had a real talent for taming animals and kept a variety of pets. They probably receive the most credit for the domestication of the cat, but there were dogs in the Egyptians’ homes as well. We can imagine this because of the many canines that prance across egyptian tomb paintings. Some of those canines have been identified as greyhounds, salukis, pharoah hounds and Ibizan hounds. I have to admit the only one in this group I recognize is the “greyhound.” Our shih tzu was not in this group at all it seems. However, less frequently, were paintings of small, short-legged dogs, (not our shih tzu) in domestic settings. They could have been the watchdogs for the Egyptians or just simply pets.

The Romans were crazy about dogs and seemed to realize they could choose dogs to mate based on appearance or behavior and develop specific abilities. They had guard dogs and dogs who fought in battles. They had a variety of house dogs including one that most likely was of the Maltese type.

The Chinese emperors were quite fond of pets. Their puppies had human nurses and their adult dogs had human servants. The Pekingese exists as a breed at least from the period of A.D. 700. They were developed to resemble the spirit lion to ward off evil and bring good luck. The chin were sometimes called “sleeve dogs.” There are ancient imperial dog cemeteries scattered about Beijing in China. Pekingese dogs were very often entombed with their emperors. The thing that really amazes me is how the faces of some our shih tzu look like the faces of chinese men and women. How did the Chinese accomplish that?

During the 14th Century the Chinese began to recognize the dog’s many functions such as being able to lead the blind.

Henry III of France was noted to have kept at least 2,000 lap dogs, who lived in luxury. Louis XIV spent 200,000 gold francs for the construction of the royal kennels at Versailles where he kenneled hunting hounds, truffle terriers and toy poodles. Tsuanayoshi of Japan nearly plunged Japan into bankruptcy to feed his 100,000 dogs. Connie Limon (writer of this article) built her shih tzu a cabin costing around $10,000 and she may be plunged into bankruptcy to feed her dogs… and the list just goes on and on and on. What people will do “for the love of dogs” is estounding. It is a bond that sometimes transcends the bond even between humans.

The Pomeranian is a lively and intelligent toy breed dog. This dog has a double coat with a soft dense undercoat and longer, harsh outer coat. He is short backed with a plumed tail that is held high and folds over to sit flat on his back. This animated dog seems to always be smiling.

The ideal weight for this breed is 4 to 6 pounds and the breed limits are 3 to pounds. The dog should be sturdy when examined. He is compact with the distance between shoulders and buttocks a bit shorter than the distance between withers and ground.

The Pomeranian has a triangular head with the top of the skull being rounded with a well pronounced stop. He resembles a fox in appearance although his muzzle is rather short. The almond shaped eyes are bright and alert and dark in color. He has small ears that are upright at the top of his head and carried perfectly erect. The nose and eye rims should be black with the exception of the blue and brown colorations.

The stance of the Pomeranian is a proud one with the head carried high. He has a compact body and moderately muscled shoulders. His feet should be set straight ahead and not turn to the inside or point out.

The double coat of the Pomeranian helps give it it’s fluffy appearance. The coat is longer in the neck and chest and shorter on the legs. The tail has long lustrous hair that flows over the dogs back. There are many colors and patterns permissible in the breed. The black and tan pattern allows for tan above the eyes, on the forechest, muzzle, throat, legs and feet. The brindle pattern has a base color of red, gold or orange with black stripes. A Parti-color Pomeranian is white with patches of any other color and has a white blaze on the head. Poms can come in red, sable, orange, cream, white, black, brown and blue.

Although the Pomeranian can appear to be somewhat dainty, he is also a lively extrovert with extreme intelligence that will steal anyones heart. He has a free moving gait and lively step. They make wonderful companion dogs as well as great show dogs.

Dogs is a major status symbol in American pet-keeping. Every year, over 12 billion dollars have been spent on dog food and veterinary care alone. According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association’s 2003-2004 Pet Owners’ Survey, more than half of dog owners purchase toys for their dogs.

Playing with toys is not the monopoly of little kids but also pets of different kind. Dogs have their own sets of toys to enjoy during their playing time.

Dogs benefit from these toys, health and training wise. There are dog toys that can strengthen their teeth or build their intelligence especially if they also attend a series of training classes with the experts. Like man, dogs are very sociable. Interaction with their companion or a sibling dog is very important in avoiding behavioral problems in the future.

When buying toys for your dog, you may want to match them with your dog’s needs, demands and even personality. Is your dog the type that enjoys chasing and retrieving games, or chewing, sitting and sprawling? You may want to try experimenting first to find out which toys make your dogs the happiest.

Before going on a toy hunt, take a look at this list of toys that may help you identify the right kind of toy for your dog.

* CHEW TOYS. These are perfect for the dog that likes to chew a lot. Instead of your dog chewing your furniture, why not buy these TOUGH little babies for them. These types of dog toy are usually made of nylon or latex rubber. The “King Kong Toys” are among the popular brands of chew toys. You can experiment by stuffing these toys with peanut butter or cheese spread, freeze them and give them to your dog for hours of licking and chewing fun.

Doggie “potato chips” is also a favorite. These “edible chips” can last to a minimum of an hour to a couple of days. They are available in different shapes like pig ears, snouts, cow knuckles, femurs, hooves and bully sticks. Others are bone-shaped made from a variety of vegetables such as carrots.

Another good toy for your dog’s chewing pleasure is the rawhide. These are non- consumable, mummified skin-like toy that you have to throw away when they get soggy, and give your dog a new one. Some rawhides are basted with a variety of flavorings. Be sure to get the “USA rawhide” with a little flag sticker on the label because these do not contain preservative flavorings that are harmful for your dogs.

SQUEAKY TOYS. For these toys, choose the rubber over the stuffed toys for durability and to avoid synthetic materials. These little noisemakers are good for training your dog’s hunting skills.

RETRIEVING TOYS. These are perfect for the chase-and-retrieve types of dogs. Dogs enjoy these toys because they get to play with you. Frisbees and balls made specifically for this activity, are the best to be used. Your dog will get a good workout and so is your arm.

TUG TOYS. These toys are best for dogs that like to grab hold and never let go. Available in rope-like designs.

BRAIN TEASERS. Best for dogs that is left alone a lot. “Biscuit balls” and “food cubes” are great examples. These toys require the dog to solve types of puzzle in order to get a treat.

Various toys of these forms are available in the market.

1. For Chewers of all Sizes

SQUIRREL DUDE - tough, durable and fun too; this hollow rubber chew toy takes on a new level in innovation; this helps to exercise your dog’s jaw a little more with the four little rubber prongs blocking the hole slightly that the dog has to work a little harder to get the goodies out.

2. Ball Launchers and Throwers (Retrieve Toys)

FRISBEES - is an all-time favorite dog toy especially the soft version; fold to fit in a pocket; comes in blue and orange colors, size six to nine inches, prices at eleven to sixteen dollars.

THE ROUND ORBEE - a tough ball hallowed with ½ inch thick membraney surface and it’s softish; it is flexible, durable, grippy, bouncy, and buoyant and has a peppermint scent; good for sniffing-and-getting-the- ball game; prices at five to twelve dollars depending on the size and form you choose

3. Squeaky Toys

SQUEAKERS - available in packages of ten each; dogs that love to silence squeakers are the best for this toy; excellent as attention and pocket squeaker as well; prices go lower if you buy in packages, from five to three dollars each box/package.

4. Tug Toys

LEATHER TUGS - great for tug-of-war games with your dog; made of high grade leather, 3/8 inches thick, tanned and not-treated; dogs like them a lot especially those with active lifestyle.

THE MONGO FETCH TOY - a chew and tug toy combined in one; the natural rubber bar is vanilla scented; rope running through the center gives you a grip for tug games and the soft tasseled ends are made for exciting action with your dogs; medium to large in size, from five to seven dollars each.

5. Brain Teasers

I CUBE - this is a toy that challenges and develops your dog’s intelligence and puzzle solving skills; be sure you are there for supervision; available in junior and jumbo sizes, six to eleven dollars.

DUCK EGG BABY - egg Babies are a plush toy with three squeaker eggs inside; there is an opening on the bottom of the toy so your dog can get the hidden treasures inside; this is a toy that challenges and develops your dog’s intelligence and puzzle solving skills too.

Toys are a fun way to enjoy with your dog in a sunny day at the park. But be sure to apply proper safety measures especially when playing with balls, sticks and stones. You do not want to harm them in any way. Remember, this is a dog-eat-dog world! Even as harmless as playing can cause indestructible damage to your dog.

When I first caught site of Oliver, my West Highland White Terrier, I was smitten. Oliver wasn’t just existing in his pet shop cage, he was romping around trying to motivate the other sleeping puppies (who weren’t Westies) into play mode. I spent the next five minutes or so watching in enjoyment his relentless but useless attempts to stir the pack. I loved his verve.

My original reason for the visit to the pet shop was to purchase a cockatiel for the reason of companionship. I was living alone in an apartment at that time and thought a whistling bird with some character could be a perfect companion for me–but there weren’t any Cockatiels for purchase. That’s when my attention–just for some amusement–lingered over to the puppies.

I didn’t even know what breed Oliver was until I asked the shopkeeper. This well informed employee relayed all the typical behaviors of the Westie breed and from what I heard–it sounded like we would be a good match. Fiesty, robust, loyal, can be a picky eater, and likes to be on their feet. I remember thinking, “But I’m not here for a puppy”.

Before I knew it, I was alone with him in one of those private rooms. I recall asking myself, “Do I want to do this”? The answer came swiftly, and intuitively the name Oliver flooded my consciousness. As this ten week old white puff of fur nibbled on my fingers he became mine in heart and mind. I made the commitment to love, care and live with this little brawny life. I whispered in his ear, “Okay Oliver, I’m gonna take you home and you and I are going to be best friends forever”.

The next words out of my mouth to the shopkeeper were “Round up everything I’ll need to take Oliver home and make him comfortable”. The whole process–which took only about 5 minutes to make–has lasted, so far, six years. Hopefully, another 9 years of sharing life with Oliver will follow, as a life without Oliver isn’t comprehensible.

I’m married now, and I have another canine named Buddy, who is a Rottweiler. Yet, to this day Oliver remains my best friend–where ever I go, Oliver goes. Where ever I sit, Oliver sits. When ever I go to bed, Oliver goes to bed. Unless Oliver is outside doing his job of watching over the property, he is inside awaiting my next move.

Oliver lived up to be everything that shop keeper said he would be and more. Oliver hikes, swims, and loves to pretend he is driving the car. I know my decision that day to take Oliver home was impulsive–and impulsive decision making in regards to animals can be a very dangerous mix. But Oliver and I are proof that sometimes you just have to accept on faith the wonderful surprises the universe throws in your path when you set out to search for the right companion.

The rottweiler breed has a long history and quite a reputation. Before buying your own pet it is a good idea as always when buying a dog, to become somewhat familiar with some of the characteristics of rottweilers.

As the rottweiler is quite a physical dog, with great strength, it is even more important that you know what you are getting yourself in to. It is key to start training of your dog as early as possible. Rottweilers need to be properly socialized so they get used to being around people. This will help greatly in later years if your dog has learned this early on.

If properly socialized and well trained the rottweiler will provide you loving friendship and good loads of exercise. They are very intelligent animals and therefore need stimuli. If you do not give them intellectual challenges to keep them, lets say, entertained, they will find ways of their own to entertain their mind which may not always be in line with what you wish to have happen in your home.

When training your rottweiler you need to be strong and firm as this breed can be strong willed at times. So let them know who is in charge, this will make both you and your dog feel more safe and calm. Even though a properly handled rottweiler is usually calm that can also be very playful, thriving on the attention from their owner and need people around to be happy.

This breed does not usually bark much. Rottweilers are known as quite dogs, though females can sometimes get loud when they feel they need to protect their home. The fact that they are rather quiet and in the event of feeling threatened tend to very still before attacking with no warning growl, has added to the reputation that rottweilers are unreliable. Though an observant owner should be able to easily spot when his or her dog feels threatened in some way.

Again it needs to be pointed out that the rottweiler needs to learn from its master who is in charge. This may at times take being very firm when training them. Once they learn you are in charge if you do your job well, they will obidiently do everything they can to please their owner.

If you have other animals around it is normally not a problem with a rottweiler as long as it grows up together with these animals around. Then they will only see these other creatures as part of the home.

There of course more to be said about rottweilers, but hopefully this has given you some basics of this great breed.

The Miniature Pinscher might be small, but these compact, resolute, muscular dogs should not be ignored. In spite of their unintimidating size, Min Pins provide excellent protection for their family as watchdogs. These wonderful dogs can be summed up in the interesting contrast of being fearless yet loving and gentle.

A common misconception about these chiseled, energetic dogs is that they are the tiny descendents of Doberman Pinschers. They are actually not related at all to their large counterparts. Min Pins were developed in Germany from Terrier breeds. Many experts also think that there was some crossing done with Italian Greyhounds. This breed is popular today as a household pet, but originally they were meant hunt rats and other vermin.

Many owners believe this breed is not for everyone. They can become aggressive with other dogs, but are good with well behaved children as long as authority are socialized early. In fact, a lot of their personality depends on how they that is raised as puppies. A large number of breeders also recommend that owners purchase an exercise pen.

Though they sometimes appear delicate, Miniature Pinschers are quite a healthy and hearty breed with few genetic disorders. Simple, minimal maintenance such as cleaning their teeth and trimming their nails will keep them healthy. In fact, their biggest health risk is a child that plays with them too roughly. They aren’t for everyone, but they will make a wonderful pet for anyone willing to love them as much as they deserve.

By now everyone has heard of dog clothing and all the other countless specialty pet products, so unless your store is selling some new invention your pet products are similar to everyone else. How does one separate from the crowd? By having the usual products with unique flare – that’s what will keep customers coming back. Providing dog clothes with panache, lowering prices and providing superior customer service are a few ways to distinguish oneself from the crowd.

Unique pet products are the key to driving sales. In choosing what dog clothing to stock, search for unique designs and prints. Keep in mind the season and any upcoming holidays. Dog costumes are very popular around Halloween and Christmas, and manufacturers offer many holiday designs that will sell. Finding dog clothes with style is easy, the hard part is finding those everyday necessities with flare. For example, it helps boost sales and grab attention to have items such as dog collars with a unique design. It can be crazy, colorful or ritzy, but it has to be different if one expects to really make some money.

Superior customer service and lower prices will keep customers coming back. No matter what, a business should always make customer satisfaction a number one priority. Ship all orders quickly, and follow up with customers regularly. Send a lot of free little gifts. It’s very cheap for the store but can help someone decide to keep shopping. As for prices, the markup should not be more than 30% - 40%. Any more and customers will catch on that they’re paying too much. These steps will help any store owner have success.